Jamie Collins is gone, traded to Cleveland for a compensatory third-round pick, and the fallout for the Patriots on the field will be significant. The 6-foot-3, 250-pounder played multiple roles in the middle of Bill Belichick's defense, seeing 89 percent of the team's defensive snaps in games for which he was active.
So what do they do now?
Collins probably won't be replaced with just one player. No one on the roster can mirror the unique athletic skill set that he brought to the table. But the Patriots can try to piece things together with those currently in house. Here's a quick look at the handful of players who could be tapped for increased responsibilities with Collins out of the picture.
Elandon Roberts (5-11, 235 pounds): The sixth-round choice out of University of Houston has been a revelation since busting onto the scene in a Week 5 win over the Browns. Though undersized, Roberts has been stout against the run, and he's held his own in coverage. He has had an interesting backstory in terms of how he landed on the Patriots radar, and he appears to be the immediate beneficiary of any playing time left behind in Collins' absence. Against the Bills on Sundy, he played in 28 snaps, taking over for Collins against run-heavy Bills packages.
Barkevious Mingo (6-4, 240): With a long-and-lean build and speed to spare, Mingo has been a key special tearmer for the Patriots since his arrival just before the start of the regular season. His contributions on defense, however, have been relatively meager. In 30 total defensive snaps, he has two quarterback hurries and three run-stuffs. With Collins out, Mingo could be entrusted with greater responsibilities in the passing game both as a speed rusher and in coverage. The bye week could be valuable for Mingo in terms of his ability to get up to speed with a defensive system he wasn't introduced to until the tail end of training camp.
Kyle Van Noy (6-3, 243): In terms of build, the newest Patriots linebacker is the most similar to Collins. Though perhaps not the same kind of athlete, Van Noy was touted as a versatile defender coming out of college who had the physical characteristics to become an effective pass-catcher. He spent most of his time in Detroit as an off-the-ball player, and in New England, he could very well be asked to do both. How he adapts to the scheme, concepts and langauge taught by Belichick and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia will be crucial in determining his usage going forward.
Shea McClellin (6-3, 250): Since arriving to the Patriots this offseason, McClellin has been used primarily as an edge defender, but he has experience playing off the ball as well. He has been limited by injuries this season and has played in 34 percent of defensive snaps.
New England Patriots
Jonathan Freeny (6-2, 242): Last year's No. 3 linebacker was placed on injured reserve in Week 5. Per league rules, if the Patriots choose to make Freeny their lone player to return from IR, he will be eligible to return after spending at least eight weeks on the reserve list.